GUWAHATI: Several prominent media organisations have reached out to Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, expressing their deep concerns about the recent crackdown on journalists and media outlets in the country. This collective appeal to the Chief Justice underscores the importance of protecting freedom of speech and expression, as enshrined in India's Constitution.
The letter highlights the need for judicial intervention in response to the raids conducted by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3. The raids targeted the homes of 46 journalists, editors, writers, and professionals associated with the online news portal, NewsClick.
Two individuals were arrested during these operations, conducted under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Mobile phones and computers were seized without due process, raising concerns about data integrity, as per reports.
The invocation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, often used in cases of terrorism, was particularly alarming to the journalism community. The letter emphasised that journalism should not be prosecuted as an act of terrorism.
The letter further urged the Chief Justice to address the escalating trend of investigative agencies being misused against the press. It mentioned instances of sedition and terrorism charges being filed against editors and reporters, along with the misuse of multiple and sequential FIRs to harass journalists.
The signatories underscored that while journalists are not above the law, the intimidation of the media has a detrimental impact on the democratic fabric of society. They called for methods to curb police overreach and ensure journalists' protection against arbitrary actions.
The letter specifically called for the framing of norms discouraging the seizure of journalists' phones and laptops without proper justification, guidelines for interrogations and seizures, and mechanisms to hold state agencies and individual officers accountable for overstepping the law or misleading courts.
The joint letter, written after extensive deliberation, emphasised the need for judicial intervention to prevent further repression of investigative agencies against the media. It acknowledged journalists' readiness to cooperate with bona fide investigations while advocating against ad hoc and sweeping seizures and interrogations.
The letter was jointly issued by organisations including Digipub News India Foundation, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, Foundation for Media Professionals, Network of Women in Media, India, Chandigarh Press Club, National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists, Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists, Free Speech Collective, Mumbai, Mumbai Press Club, Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Press Association, Gauhati Press Club, Indian Journalists Union (IJU), Kolkata Press Club, and Working News Cameramen's Association (WNCA), among others.
